Off Work Sick - Formal Work Interview?!

Happy_bunny

Hi All!

I've been employed since last September with a local car dealership, In late (20th) December I was admitted to hospital with severe pneumonia and kidney disorder, told that my illness was life threatening and signed off work.

I'm still very ill and virtually housebound at the minute due to the chest problems.

Since then I have had numerous doctors, hospital and specialist appointments - Roughly every 3 days at the moment.

I have been obtaining and having delivered, by hand, the appropriate sick note from my GP - My current sick note leaving me signed off till late February.

My employer has know demanded, by recorded delivery letter and followed by by both email and telephone, that I attend a formal interview, on Monday, with my own manager and the general (site) manager to discuss 'prolonged absence, due to illness, during my (6 month) probationary period' and adding that should my interview 'prove my performance is unsatisfactory - whilst still within a probationary period - I may be advised my employment would cease with one weeks notice being given'.

Where do I stand? Am at a loss, there's frankly no way I'm in any way to return to work currently and would really appreciate some advice before the meeting

TIA

ableandy

I am afraid there is little you can do. During your first two years of employment an employer can terminate your contract with very little comeback unless it is for one of the normal -isms (sexuality, gender, etc).

You need to go, be honest with them and try to come to some sort of agreement. Bear in mind that they employed you to do a job which you are not currently doing, they obviously need the role doing but whilst they are paying you sick pay they may not be able to afford to bring in someone else.

I know it is not nice to happen but you need to look at it from both sides.

sniggings

sorry not good news, they have a right to sack you for any reason within 2 years, they do not even have to give you a reason, it was one year with Labour but the Tories have upped this to 2 years now.

They don't need to use the probation period but sounds as if they are following their own rules.

You have a couple of options...

Go to the meetting if you can and fight your case, explain the reason you were off, facing them so they can see you are sick can make a big difference, it's a lot easier being nasty to someone by letter.

Or

Ring them and explain the reasons you are off and say when you should be back, and again hope they understand.

Bottom line is, they need a worker, yes you are sick but they need to run a business, no matter what the reason for the absence, they need staff there.

All you can hope for is they don't want to get rid of you, explain a time plan when you should be back, them not knowing when you will return is not going to help them understand, if they know for sure you will be back in 3 week or 2 weeks, then they may accept that.

Sorry but there is nothing you can do if they have decided you have had just too much time off.

Remember you will most likely need a reference, so if they do let you go, try and kept it on good terms.

paddedjohn

If you are on the sick they cant force you to go to the interview but as stated above they can get shot of you if they want to so it might be best to go and put your side across